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34 pages 1 hour read

Waiting For Lefty

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1935

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Book Brief

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Clifford Odets

Waiting For Lefty

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1935
Book Details
Pages

32

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 1930s

Publication Year

1935

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Waiting for Lefty by Clifford Odets depicts a tense union meeting where taxi drivers debate whether to strike for better wages. Union leader Harry Fatt tries to suppress the idea, while workers share personal stories highlighting their struggles. As tension escalates, the search for their chairman, Lefty, ends in a shocking revelation, propelling the workers to fervently chant for a strike.

Challenging

Gritty

Dark

Suspenseful

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

3.9

992 ratings

46%

Loved it

36%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Reviews for Clifford Odets’ Waiting For Lefty reveal a poignant portrayal of working-class struggles that captures the spirit of the 1930s labor movement. Praised for its raw emotional power and social relevance, some critiques note its dated dialogue and occasionally one-dimensional characters. Overall, it remains an impactful and historically significant piece of American theater.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Waiting For Lefty?

Readers passionate about social justice issues and class struggles will enjoy Clifford Odets' Waiting for Lefty. Comparable to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, this play appeals to those interested in the labor movement and the plight of the working class during the Great Depression.

3.9

992 ratings

46%

Loved it

36%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

Character List

HARRY FATT

The corrupt leader of a union, he represents capitalist exploitation and uses coercion and manipulation to maintain control over workers.

An initially hesitant worker who, inspired by his family's dire situation, pushes for collective action as a means to improve conditions.

Joe's determined wife, who motivates him to fight for change by highlighting their family’s struggles and using persuasive tactics.

A principled driver who rejects unethical propositions despite financial hardship, demonstrating strong moral convictions.

A capitalist figure willing to ignore ethics for profit, advocating for the development of destructive technologies irrespective of human cost.

A young woman who faces the dilemma of choosing between love and familial duty amidst financial challenges.

Florence’s brother, who prioritizes practicality over sentimentality, cautioning her about the implications of marrying someone without financial stability.

A devoted taxi driver engaged to Florence, who grapples with the impossibility of supporting a family on his current wages.

An undercover operative tasked with disrupting workers’ strikes, masquerading as a supportive worker to mislead the group.

A former surgeon turned cab driver after losing his hospital job due to antisemitism, grappling with systemic inequities in the medical field.

A hospital administrator aware of the injustices in hospital administration but unwilling to jeopardize his position for change.

A passionate advocate for worker empowerment, urging his fellow workers to take collective action and challenge exploitative structures.

Book Details
Pages

32

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 1930s

Publication Year

1935

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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